Caution: Spoilers ahead for The Walking Dead season 9 midseason finale.

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The Walking Dead has aired the season 9 midseason finale and there are plenty of unanswered questions for viewers to ponder over Christmas and New Year. While not as fast-paced as previous finale episodes, "Evolution" certainly delivered a number of huge, dramatic moments and some memorable action sequences. After several weeks of mysterious talking zombies and strangely moving herds, the culprits were finally unmasked as the Whisperers: a primitive group of survivors who blend in with the undead by wearing their skins as a disguise.

Unfortunately, the long-awaited arrival of these new villains brought with it the death of Jesus. While going for a routine zombie head-stab, the man formerly known as Paul Rovia was taken by surprise, as the walker ducked and countered with a blade of his own. Back at Alexandria, Gabriel carelessly left Negan's cell unlocked, allowing the Saviors' former leader to saunter towards freedom, while over at Hilltop, some random teenagers appeared to lead Henry astray.

Related: When The Walking Dead Returns & What To Expect From Season 9's Second Half

As The Walking Dead season 9's first part ends, Michonne and the others are surrounded by Whisperers in a suitably creepy graveyard, Negan is on the loose in Alexandria and viewers are left reeling by the death of another major character. Here are the biggest unanswered questions and mysteries coming out of The Walking Dead midseason finale.

What Do The Whisperers Want?

"Evolution" finally saw The Walking Dead's protagonists clash directly with the Whisperers, and the next order of business will be to ascertain exactly what this new group's goals, aims and motivations are. Although this information isn't explicitly provided in the episode, a fairly big clue is included.

As Jesus is brutally murdered, his masked assailant whispers "you are where you do not belong" and thus helpfully provides viewers with a strong indication of what the Whisperers are all about. Both the Governor and Negan were broadly motivated by power and control, seeing the apocalypse as a chance to better their own lives at the (usually bloody) expense of others. The Whisperers, on the other hand, couldn't be more different.

A highly animalistic community, the Whisperers operate on the simple philosophy that if you leave them alone, they will return the favor. Encroach on their territory or hurt their people, however, and they'll stop at nothing to kill you. It's worth remembering that this situation only arose because Gabriel asked Eugene and Rosita to head into unexplored territory and set up a signal booster. Evidently, this territory was not unclaimed. Now that Rosita has escaped and several Whisperers lay dead, a diplomatic resolution to this dispute seems unlikely.

Related: The Walking Dead: 8 Unanswered Questions After The Time Jump

How Many Whisperers Are Out There Exactly?

Ross Marquand as Aaron in The Walking Dead

The climax of The Walking Dead's midseason finale saw Michonne, Magna, Yumiko, Aaron and Eugene quickly take out a batch of Whisperers but they were almost immediately surrounded by a second wave of enemies, their ominous voices echoing through the dense fog. Taking into consideration their constant presence since The Walking Dead's time jump - in herds, in the graveyard and possibly even around Hilltop - it appears that the Whisperers potentially outnumber the residents of Alexandria, Hilltop and the Kingdom.

Part of the reason these villains walk among the undead is to hide their true numbers, meaning the overall size of their group isn't clear, but if the TV show follows the comic books, the Whisperers are very much set to be formidable in number. This explains why Michonne's team take out the first handful of skin-clad assailants so easily; the Whisperers aren't particularly well-trained or heavily-armed, instead their power comes from volume and the way they use walkers to their advantage.

Is The Walking Dead Returning To Its Horror Roots?

Whisperer on The Walking Dead

One of the foremost criticisms of The Walking Dead in recent seasons has been a shift away from a zombie-based horror approach to a more human-centric drama and, although some might argue that this was always the true essence of the show, it certainly hasn't been as popular with fans. However, does the arrival of the Whisperers herald a brand new era of tension, scares and zombie thrills on The Walking Dead?

Related: The Walking Dead Is Finally Good Again In Season 9

Without a doubt, the Whisperers lend themselves more naturally to the horror genre than past villains thanks to their primal tendencies and unique choice of attire, but the way they hunt and kill also brings back some more frightening elements from earlier seasons of The Walking Dead. Instead of another maniacal wannabe dictator to duke it out with, the characters are now faced with a threat in disguise, lurking among the trees waiting to strike silently and who possess a moral code that isn't just undemocratic, it's inhuman.

After nine years, it's difficult to make zombies feel like a genuine, scary threat, and the shift towards human foes was arguably a necessity because of this. But the Whisperers bring back the feelings of horror, suspense and dread to The Walking Dead and make their undead servants a force to be reckoned with once again, rather than just background nuisances - a point brutally driven home by the midseason finale's graveyard battle.

Page 2 of 3: Walking Dead Midseason Finale Questions About Negan

Walking Dead Negan Prison

Where Is Negan Headed?

Negan was up to his old tricks in the latest episode of The Walking, riling up Father Gabriel with comments about Rosita, being half blind and anything else that would get a rise out of his makeshift therapist. These verbal barbs clearly weren't part of grand, manipulative escape plan on Negan's part but that's exactly what ultimately happened as, in his frustration, Gabriel neglected to lock the door to Negan's cell.

Barely able to believe his luck, the jailbird of Alexandria tossed aside his toy tennis ball and gleefully made for the exit. So, what exactly is Negan's plan of action? After all, it'll surely be impossible for him to escape Alexandria without any weapons or assistance. In this instance, the comic books may provide some clues.

Related: Walking Dead: What Happened To Negan & Where His Story Goes Next

The comic version of Negan also finds his cage unlocked one day, albeit not because of Gabriel, but instead of making a break for freedom, he opts to stay obediently in his cell to earn trust. Later on in the story, however, Negan is helped out of Alexandria by a disgruntled resident and eventually comes across the Whisperers. The TV series could still take either route; maybe Negan will enjoy a stroll around town then return to his cell in time for dinner, or perhaps the narrative will skip that particular beat and he'll end up intertwined with the new villains.

Was Negan Right About Rosita?

Walking Dead Eugene Rosita Whisperers

Before his escape, Negan had a brand new cell window and was not afraid to use it. While teasing Gabriel, Negan reveals that many residents of Alexandria have forgotten all about him rotting in jail and often discuss things of a personal nature right next to his window. The former Savior chief goes on to boast that he overheard Rosita talking about her feelings for someone other than Father Gabe during one such eavesdropping session.

Gabriel naturally reacts to these comments with skepticism and, in fairness, Negan certainly has a history of using emotional manipulation to get what he wants out of people. This time, however, he might just be on to something.

It seems strange that Gabriel and Rosita even became a couple in the first place but, since the time jump, there have been several instances where a more genuine romantic connection has been implied between Rosita and Eugene. This plot is likely inspired The Walking Dead's comic series, in which Rosita is revealed to be in a relationship with Eugene after the time jump but, her heart not quite in it, she ends up cheating on him with Siddiq. The only difference here is that Gabriel is the jilted party instead of Eugene.

Related: The Walking Dead: Everything That Happened In The Time Jump

Is Henry The New Carl?

Matt Lintz as Henry on The Walking Dead

When Carl Grimes was written out of The Walking Dead last season, there was some concern over how the show would adapt his comic book storylines, especially since the youngster's printed incarnation is still very much alive. Then-showrunner Scott M. Gimple responded to these worries, claiming that the same plot points would still be covered on the show, but with different characters.

Based on his scenes in "Evolution", it seems that Henry could be a key part of that strategy. In The Walking Dead comics, Carl becomes an apprentice blacksmith at the Hilltop and goes on to develop feelings for a captured Whisperer prisoner called Lydia - a relationship that greatly worsens the conflict between the two groups. Young Henry has already taken up Carl's position as Earl's apprentice and, over the last few episodes, The Walking Dead has repeatedly demonstrated Henry's keen sense of morality. Could this character's heroic actions be building towards him replacing Carl as Lydia's teenage knight in shining armor?

Page 3 of 3: Walking Dead Midseason Finale Questions About The Communities

Danai Gurira as Michonne in The Walking Dead

What's Hilltop's Issue With Michonne?

Since Rick's presumed death, there have been huge question marks over how the three main communities became so divided and why Michonne is now uncharacteristically cautious. This mystery wasn't cleared up in "Evolution" but the plot did thicken considerably with Michonne's arrival at Hilltop, where it quickly became clear that the entire community, even former friends such as Tara and Enid, have a problem with her.

This attitude does perhaps confirm that, as suspected, Maggie departed Hilltop due to whatever happened with Michonne in the time skip but other than that, viewers are none the wiser. The exchange contains vague references to an as-yet-unseen event that caused the communities to drift apart and Michonne herself speaks of a decision she made that proved unpopular with Hilltop, but that ultimately saved their lives.

Related: The Walking Dead: What "A" & "B" Actually Mean

Interestingly, this week's "Henry got drunk" storyline revealed that Hilltop now has a system of law and punishments in place - an idea that originally came from Michonne herself earlier in season 9. This would suggest that the disagreement between Michonne and Maggie wasn't just a continuation of their differing viewpoints prior to the time skip.

Are The X Scars Exclusive To Alexandrians?

Part of the reason for Michonne's change in attitude surely involves the X-shaped scars seen on the backs of both the Alexandria leader and Daryl Dixon. The cause of these marks is still shrouded in mystery, although The Walking Dead midseason finale may give the situation a little more context. During the massively awkward conversation between Tara and Michonne, an allusion is made to a traumatic event that befell Alexandria and led to the separation of the communities.

Given that the scars have so far only been seen on Michonne and Daryl (who resided in Alexandria prior to his self-imposed exile), it's possible that Rick's former settlement took the brunt of whatever happened (and literally have the scars to prove it), while Hilltop and Kingdom were somehow spared the same fate. This might also help to explain why Alexandria are the only community not taking part in the forthcoming fair.

Another clash with the Saviors during the time jump is still the most likely explanation behind both the scars and the poor relations between communities, but viewers will have to wait until the second half of The Walking Dead season 9 for confirmation on the matter, perhaps in the form of some flashback sequences.

Related: The Walking Dead's New Star Also Played Young Rey In The Force Awakens

What Happens Now To Hilltop's Leadership?

Tom Payne as Jesus in The Walking Dead TV Show

As post-apocalyptic settlements go, the Hilltop are actually doing remarkably well. Not only do they have crops and horses, but there's a blacksmith available to make weapons and some medical types to patch up the wounded. However, losing Maggie to Georgie's community was undoubtedly a cruel blow and although Jesus was unanimously named her successor, it seems a new election will now have to be held.

Given her position as Jesus' right-hand woman, Tara is perhaps next in line for the leadership of Hilltop. But while she may be astute at settling noise complaints and farming issues, there are doubts over her ability to be a wartime leader; as a former follower of the Governor and a fully paid-up member of the "kill all the Saviors" brigade, Tara hasn't exactly found herself on the right side of history when it comes to The Walking Dead's major conflicts.

With the Whisperers lurking nearby, the Hilltop needs someone to take charge against this vicious new enemy and, since there isn't a character within that community that springs to mind as an ideal contender, it's possible that Jesus' death will force the three communities closer together in order to defeat this emerging enemy.

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The Walking Dead season 9's midseason finale leaves fans with plenty of questions to mull over during the holiday break. Already, a trailer for the second half of season 9 promises the arrival of the Whisperers' leader Alpha, a bigger role for Negan and even more tension between protagonists. The remainder of the season has plenty of story to cover and viewers also have no idea how the forthcoming series of Rick movies will tie into the wider narrative. Perhaps AMC will shed some light on the matter during the off-season.

Next: The Walking Dead's Latest Time Jump Sets Show In The "Future"

The Walking Dead season 9 returns in February 2019 on AMC.